Mandaue city gov't. Maintains status quo Fiscals' allowances continue

CEBU, Philippines - Some prosecutors of the Regional State Prosecutors Office continued to received their allowances from the Mandaue City government despite the Commission on Audit (COA)’s earlier observation that the six prosecutors are “not stationed” in the city.

 COA, in their earlier observation, noted that officials and personnel of the Regional State Prosecutor’s office were paid monthly allowances totaling to about P1.1 despite the lack of an office order or any document showing that these officials were “assigned or stationed” in the city.

They also found out that the claims were not supported with any accomplishment reports to show that they have rendered services in the city.

In an interview how-ever, city treasurer Regal Oliva said that these prosecutors continued to received their monthly allowances from the city government since there was no ruling yet of the issues being raised by COA .

  Oliva said that the city can only stop the giving of allowances to the fiscals once the court rules it null & void or will decide that these prosecutors are not entitled to allowances from the city government.

 He explained that the city’s act of continuing to give allowances to these prosecutors is not a defiance of COA’s ruling since the agency merely gives their observation with regards to the city’s account.

 He said that such observation can be appealed in court which the prosecutors did lately.

“Let’s maintain a status quo for now. We released their allowances and let us wait for the court’s stand against the issue,” Oliva said.

Oliva further said that there was no irregularity over the continued release of their allowances since it is covered with an appropriation ordinance and these fiscals were able to render accomplishment reports to the city.

 Earlier, Assistant Regional State Prosecutor Graeme June Elmido filed a civil case seeking the court’s assistance on the interpretation and construction of a section of R.A7160 known as the Local Government Code which points out this issue, and on RA 10071 or an “Act Strengthening and Rationalizing the National Prosecution Service”.

He also pointed out that the phrases “stationed in” and “assigned to” have different meanings saying that the former refers to physical presence in a certain place while the latter does not require physical presence as it refers to a specific task, job or duty .

Elmido and the other prosecutors also believe that the Regional State Prosecutors were assigned to Mandaue City because they were tasked to resolve appealed cases. — Flor Z.Perolina/MIT(FREEMANNEWS)